Mine hoistway cage



Allg- 1943- A. R. LONG ETAL 2,327,913

MINE HOISTWA Y CAGE Filed Dec. 1, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1.

i INVENTORS. Ar'w-rLi'ataadR. L011.

.JUHTIELL n MFQMQ ATTORNEYS.

Aug 24 1943.

A. R. LONG ET AL. 2,327,913 MINE HoIsTwAY CAGE Filed Dec. 1, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTORS Armisiaafl. R. Lung John E. Ln: TIE

ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 24, 1943. A *R 'LONG ETAL MINE HOISTWAY CAGE 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 1,

FlG. a.

F IG. 4.

INVENTORS.

Em U D N LL m RB M i Em M 3% m BY K Patented Aug. 24, 1943 J,

, A w, l Eel-1w 1 Q ziazm ie V a g. M HO WAY M Armistead R. Long-s FayettevillegWi" Van, and z iJohnB.-Long, United1'States Navy lortsmoutm;

Application December 1, 1942-,seha'1-No. 4 57,5501 .3Claims" (c1..'214- 12a) The presentinventionjrelates to-mine hoisting machinery and more particularly to improvementsinthecages. I, "1' f In the development of mines, vertical'shaft's", are to alarge extent used in'whichto hoist material itrlhi'challowsl ,iustl sufilcient, clearance between. the

and" workmen. Many of thesefshaftshave bee'n in existence as number of years; originally made to dimensions suitable for accommodating wooden mine cars as then made, when material and'l'abor virasche'ap. These shafts are equipped, at great cage "and the. hoist frame" (sometimes, called the iisli'ng. or bridl'ejl' and? jilstijsufii'cient' clearance between the sides ,of the cage and the car body,

v consistent, with; safety and." speed of operation, to

permit the use off'the'wi'der cars'in the'oider' mines without" increasing the plan dimensions of the 1 1 Another object expense, with upright, c'ageiguides support d by buntons or other timbers, so that to enlarge the shafts would require considerable time and ex pense. The urgentd'emand'for material, such as coal, has made it essential; to deliver from the mines; increasing quantities thereof during agiven 1 period of time and also because of the higher cost of mine haulage and labor, iinproved'mine cars of metal havebeen provided mainly to increase the load capacity as compared with the d wooden cars. In this way the output of "mines has been gradually increased over a period of v years, still using shafts of the size made many years ago. The overall dim'ensionsofthese 1m"- proved cars have, in the past, been limited by characteristics of'the cages runningin the shafts, some of which have been in use formany years or patterned after those used when wooden cars were standard; To increase the siz of'the shaftsand install guides and other equipment Would'be'expensive and result in'themine' being idle if only one-shaft is available, or reduce'the producing capacity of the mine if more than one shaft is available and; theyare; one by one, altered'for accommodation of cars oflarger'overall dimenslons.

Until recently the effort has been to increase the capacity of the cars byproviding running gear which avoids thru axles and to arrange the car bottoms so'that' some of the material may be nestedfso to speak, in portions of the bottoms about the upper portions of the Wheels, using every available space in-the car body for the lading. The point was finallyreached where such construction practically reached the limit, and further efiorts along these lines led to complicated and expensive car construction. It "was finally determined that the best procedure to increase the load capacityofthe'car, would be to increase its body width, especially for cars used in new mines Where shafts-of larger dimensions were available for accommodating them. Such improved cars met with such favorthat proprietors of the older mines r'ealized that the cost of production according toavailabl'e equipment intheir mines/was greater than in the newer mines but that the'great demand for coaldid not justify closing the mines'to' make-theexpensive alteratiOIlS.

The present inventionhas for its principal ob- 'hoi'st'way, a

'of'the ihve'ntio'n'is to provide an improved mi'ne'cage for; thewider mine cars of the character described. andwhiclr y be used with the dumpingitrack in the'head frame of the head.-

house of'theolder mines; fordumpingof' the'c'ars,

without altering the" gaugeof the tracks or in "any way reconstru'cting"'or rearranging the" said track.. y

l E A furtherobject of ourinvention is'toiprovi'de a mine cagewhichds inexpensive to manufacture andfmaintain' in' good repair: It" may be made mainlyoi sheet metal, standard rolled-metal-secr tions. and'metalbars; and" convenientlywelded to gether to. provide a strong and comparatively light cage" susceptibleof"'withstanding, the stresses a'nd issubjected in practice. 'Otherobjects andiadvantagesof this" invention will be apparent. from the following" detailed de' strainsjtowhich ,industrialequipment' of thiskind vscription, 'talien 'imconnection with the acc'ornfic'aticn, and-in which drawings: Figure 1 isaview-infsidefelevation of a cage constructed according to the" present invention, there also h'eing' shown aportion'of one of the guides: and oneof the setsof guide rails of the dumping traclrcommonin the art; t

Figure 2,is an end elevation-ofthe cage, por ti'on's of the hoist frame heing broken away to disclosesome-details; 5 Figure -3-is an enlarged view partly'in plan and partly in horizontal section looking downupon thehoistframe and a-portion or the cage, I Figure4 -is-anenIarged-viewin' elevation of the upper portionof the-hoist frameand cage.

By wayof example, the drawings showopposite vertical stationary guides 1, such as are panying' drawings; forming a part" of thisspeci foundin many mine shafts inthis country; a

ject, the provision of ani-mproved mine cage hoist frame 8 alsocom-mfon in-the-"art, heldto a predetermined path oi -travel in the shaft by guides 1; and a track 9, in Figure- 1-;

Such as is found in the head-frames of shafts, for tilting the cage when'it is desiredtodump theload from a minecar l0 shownin Figured, resting 'upon the improved cage l- I In the'draw ing s there arealsoshown; by way of example,

the ordinaryflanged dumping wheels I 2 carried The hoist "frame 8 comprises an upper cross I piece [4, to which the hoisting rope or cable, not shown in the drawings, is secured; a lower dis- Dumping tracks 9 of the character shown in Figure 1 are common in the art and comprise spaced parallel rails 23 each having a straight portion 24 and a curved. portion 25. The portions 25curve away from the axis of the mine shaft to guide the cage H to a dumping position in the wellknown manner. These tracks Qhave been installed at many mines, at a great expense, and have aflxed position suited to'the older types of cages intended for smaller'carsf The portions 24 usually extend quite a distance below thecurved portions 25 so as to receive the wheels l2 as the cage rises,'and prevent tipping of the cage when the locking device I3 is released and before the wheels l2 reachthe curved portion 'of the track. As may be observed from Figure 1, the portions ,24 are laterally of and in close proximity to the cage at a time just before the wheels 'I 2 reach the curved portions of the tracks. .The improved cage ll comprises a platform 25, a substructure 2! beneath the platform, pivotally'securing it to the lower portion of the hoist frame 8, and a superstructure 28 above the platform. The substructure 2'! may be. of any suitable character and in fact, requires no alteration in adapting the present invention to existing equipment. .We have found, however, that by having the substructure zln'arrower than the platform 26 and superstructure 28, there are advantages. It gives greater clearance below the platform, the bottom of the shaft often containing rubbish, water, floating debris, etc., and it is this portion of the shaft that the substructure enters when the cage is lowered so that the platform is on a level with the track bed at the bottom of the shaft.

Generally, the substructure comprises stringers 29 and cross beams 36 on which the platform 6 is secured, depending arms 3| preferably having split journal boxes 32 on their ends, a shaft 33 mounted on posts 34 secured to thedistance piece E5, the ends of the shaft 33 receiving the journal boxes .32, and substantially triangular side pieces 35 secured to the stringers 29 and arms 3|.

Above the substructure 21 is the platform 28. It may be of sheet metal and is of a width so that its lateral margins 36 are in very close proximity to the channel assemblies l6. It is upon this platform that rails 31 .are mounted forreceiving the car I0.

The superstructure 23 is made so as to not only operate in old mine shafts and with dumping track assemblies of fixed dimensions, but also to move between the channel assemblies of old hoist frames with minimum clearance and to accommodate the wider car Ill and its topping load 38 with minimum clearance. It comprises metal side plate 40, a cross beam 4!, means 42 wheels I2 carried by a shaft 43 supported by bearings 44 mounted on the side of cross beam 4| Instead of using rolled metal sections such as channels, angles or I-sections, mainlyto transmit movement of the dumping wheels l2 along the curved portions of track 9, to the platform .26 and substructure 21, as is common in the art,

The assemblies it each we rely mainly on the side plates 40 which may be of a gauge sufiicient to resist bending or ,dis-

tortion, yet not occupy considerable space between the guides l and the channel assemblies [7. These plates 40 may also be made to give maximum protection to men riding up and down on the platform.

, In the example shown, the plates .40 each have a lower marginal portion dfifpreferably of the same length as the length of platform 26, up: right margins 41, and converging. upper marginsv 48 and 49, preferably terminating more to" one side of the center ofthe plate than tothe other, as shown at 50 in Figure 1. The lower margins 41 of the side plates 40 are secured to thellateral margins 36 of the platform in any suitable man! ner, such as by angles 5].) In this way we provide a cage which wil accommodate the wider mine cars allowingjust sufficient clearancebetween the channel assemblies 16 0f the frame] and the cage, so as to permitthe latter to oscillate in the frame for a dumping and return op-j eration, and just sufl'icient clearance between the plates 49 and the sides 52 ofthe' car l0, without weakening the cage.

The beam 4| ,is preferably of. a length less than the space between the confronting faces 53 of side plates 40. It may be made of two channel sections 54 having their flanges .55 abutting, and welded together as at 56. Thus the new cage may be made to position the dumping wheels II in the same location they would be if carried by an old type of cage, and to properlycooperate with old installeddumping tracks 9.

The means 42 in the preferred example of the present' invention, is made to perform many functions- It comprises preferably metal strip members 58 vertically located, one at each side of the cage and secured to the side plates and to the ends of beam 4] in any suitable manner, such as by welding59 and 66, respectively.

While not absolutely necessary, the members 58 each comprises'a major portion 6!, an upper minor portion 62 and a lower minor portion 63. The major portion is welded to its respective side plate; the upper minor portion extends beyond the upper portion. of the side plate andis inwardly offset by bends 64 andfifi, so as to meet with the end of beam '41. and not interfere with flange 65 of wheel l2; and, the lower minorpob tion isinwardly offset as bybends 61; and 68 and is welded as at 69 to the'substructure 2 7. These members 58 are located so as to laterally engage the channel assemblies I8 of frame t when the platform 26 is in a horizontal position soas to limit swinging movement of the cage to one side only of the frame. The members 58 therefore act as means to connect the upper portions of the side plates to the beam, to maintain the upper portions of said side plates in spaced relation and against deflection; act to reinforce the side plates; act as stops for limiting movement 4i, and in the example shown, the dumping of the cage in one direction with'respect: to the frame; and, act to more securely tie the superstructure to the substructure 2L If desired, diagonal braces 70 may be provided, welded as at H and 12 to the beam (H andside plates 40, respectively. These braces mayjbe sufficiently high so as to not interfere with the topping load 38 of car l0.

The automatic locking device E3 is old inthe art, and is shown merely by way of example; mainly comprises an upstanding lug 13 secured to the beam ll latching levers M pivoted to upper cross piece M as at l5, the levers having bills lfifor engaging lugs 13 and operating arms H, extending in opposite directions with their terminal portions it in the parallel planes of guides I; and cams 8t secured to the guides I at faces opposite from the dumping tracks 9. Suitable springs iii and 82 are provided to normally swing the levers M so that the bills it engage lugs 1a and thereby adjacent its central portion;

said cage comprising a platform for the load having its lateral margins in close proximity tov being rigidly secured to the platform and dis-- posed next adjacent to and but slightly spaced from said channel assemblies, the confronting faces of said plates defining the lateral bounds for accommodating the mine car on the platform andtthe outer faces of the plates spaced from the prevent swinging movement of the cage tothe side of the frame opposite to that limited by members 58. In Figures 1, 3 and t, the levers it have been shown moved, responsive to action of cams 80 cooperating with the terminal portions 13 of arms 1 l, to release the cage for swinging movement as the. dumping Wheels l2 reach the curved portions of the dumping tracks.

It is believed that the construction and operation of the improved hoist for mine cars will be understood from the foregoing description and changes in details, arrangements of parts and other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a hoist for mine cars, the combination channel assemblies just sufficient for clearance as the cage oscillates in the frame QWhereby cars of maximum width consistent with the spacing of the guides, may be accommodated on the platform between said side plates, a vertical support 'member for each side plate, said vertical support members'having major portions secured to the outer faces of their respective side plates and minor inwardly offset portions extending above the upper portions of their respective side plates, said inwardly offset portions of said vertical sup- I port members being secured to the ends of said with spaced, upright, stationary guides and a hoist frame movable between said guides, provided with channel assemblies for receiving said guides, of a cage pivotally carried by the lower portion of said frame to oscillate in the frame,

having its lateral margins in close proximity to said channel assemblies, a substructure beneath said platform pivotally securing the same to the hoist frame, and a superstructure above the platform comprising a cross beam of a length less than the width of said platform, side plates for each side margin of the platform, said side plates being rigidly secured to the platform and disposed next adjacent to and but slightl spaced from said channel assemblies, the confrontin faces of said plates defining the lateral bounds for accommodating the mine car on the platform and the outer faces of'the plates spaced from the channel assemblies just suiilcient for clearance as the cage oscillates in the frame, whereby cars of maximum width consistent with spacing of the guides, may be accommodated on the platform between said side plates, a vertical support member for each side plate, said vertical support members having major portions secured to the outer faces of their respective side plates and minor inwardly offset portions extending above the upper portions of their respective side plates, said inwardly offset portions of the veitical supporting members being secured to the ends of said cross beam, and two flanged dumping wheels carried by said cross beam, said dumping wheels located one at each end of the beam and disposed with the plane of rotation of its flange in substantially the same plane as the major portion of its adjacent support member.

2. In a hoist for mine cars, the combination with spaced, upright, stationary guides and a hoist frame movable between said guides, provided with channel assemblies for receiving said guides, of a cage pivotally carried by the lower portion of said frame to oscillate in the frame,

cross beam, and said major portions positioned on said plates to engage laterally the said channel assemblies when the platform is in 2, Horizontal position to limit swinging movement of the cage to one side only of the frame, and two flanged Ldumping wheels carried by said cross beam, said dumping wheels located one at each end of the beam and disposed with the plane of rotation of its flange in substantially the same plane as the major portion of its adjacent supportmemher.

3. In a hoist for mine cars, the combination with spaced, upright, stationary mine shaft guides, a hoist frame, movable between said guides, provided with channel assemblies for sliding engagement with said guides, and two companion dumping tracks in the head frame of the shaft, said tracks located one to one side of each of said guides; of a cage pivotally mounted upon the lower portion of said hoist frame, said cage comprising, dumping wheels for cooperation with said tracks, an elongate platform for the mine car extending between and with its 1ongitudinal margins adjacent to said channel assemblies of said hoist frame, a substructure beneath said platform pivotally securing the same to the hoist frame, and a superstructure above the platform comprising a cross-beam supporting said wheels, and a side plate secured to each longitudinal marginal portion of said platform, and to said beam, said side plates being inparallel relation, with their confronting faces defining the lateral bounds for accommodating the mine car upon the platform with just sufficient clearance to permit thecar to be run onto and off the platform without lateral obstruction, and the outer faces of said plates being free of obstructions and spaced from their adjacent channel assemblies of the hoist frame just sufficient for clearance as the cage oscillates in the hoist frame responsive to travelling engagement of said wheels with saiddumping tracks, whereby mine cars of maximum width consistent with spacing of the mine shaft guides, may be accommodated on the platform between said side plates.

I ARMISTEAD R. LONG.

JOHN B. LONG. 

